Working Conditions Aboard the Leroy-A.-Mendonca

On August 16, 2022, the USNS Mendonca (T-AKR 303) successfully completed the transportation of wreckage from an F/A-18E Super Hornet, returning it from the Augusta Bay Port Facility in Sicily to Norfolk, Virginia. The aircraft, which belongs to Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211) and was part of Carrier Air Wing 1, fell off the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on July 8, 2022, due to unexpected severe weather conditions during operations. The dedicated crew aboard the Mendonca played an essential role in the meticulous planning of the aircraft's recovery and lift. They expertly maneuvered the salvage barge's crane to extract the single-seat fighter jet, ensuring it was securely fastened on deck for its journey home. The Super Hornet was recovered on August 3 from a staggering depth of approximately 9,500 feet, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Task Force 68, the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), the Harry S. Truman crew, the Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and the US 6th Fleet, all utilizing the multi-purpose construction vessel MPV Everest. Employing a CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle, the team attached specialized rigging and lifting lines to the aircraft, which facilitated its successful hoisting to the surface and onto the Everest. For further details and visual documentation of this significant recovery operation, visit the report at The Aviation Geek Club.